Sunday, December 11, 2011

A charm(ing) and novel(ty) giveaway

I want to type something wonderful and witty to want to make you come back here after this Giveaway Day at Sew Mama Sew is long over.  But, nothing charming has come to mind.  Nothing novel at least.

My name is Manda.  I'm a librarian turned stay at home, homeschooling, sometimes quilting, rarely blogging -Mama.  I started quilting a little over a year ago after my family had to uproot our lives in Virginia and move to Alabama for work.  Quilting made those first few lonely months bearable.  I come from a long line of quilters.  In fact, I still sleep each night with a quilt that my great-grandmother made for me.  But, I never took interest in the craft as a young person, so I don't have any great stories about learning to quilt from either one of them, although I am happy to continue the tradition.  Even now, my mother and I have two different quilting styles, so I don't go to her for a lot of things.   However, without her to wind bobbin after bobbin for me until I learned, I wouldn't be the so-so quilter I am today.  I'm happy to report that I am an excellent bobbin winder these days.  With any luck, and with a lot of practice, my children- and one day grandchildren- might treasure quilts made by me.

My kids love I-Spy quilts. I love working with novelty fabric.  Here are some quilts I've made over the past year:


1. Quilt for Maggie Rose, 2. Ada's I Spy- back, 3. Ada's I Spy- front, 4. birthdayquilt2

My oldest daughter and baby son have one.  My middle daughter is waiting patiently for hers.  She's going to be lucky enough to be the recipient of a Spoonflower I-Spy quilt.  I've been fortunate enough to participate in Spoonflower swaps.  One was a small swap.  We ended up with pairs of squares, and I'm happy to offer my duplicate charms in this giveaway. There are also some pairs of Japanese charms I have left over. Maybe you're too a Spoonflower swapper?  Maybe you could use these in a mug rug, or doll quilt?


You will also receive these scraps of novelty fabric.  I've entered several I-Spy swaps and sometimes have extra yardage leftover.  I never know what to do with it, and I'm not one good at saving and remembering to use what I have. These are all large pieces.  If you don't like novelty fabric, then I guess this isn't too exciting of a giveaway for you.



The giveaway is open to anyone who can type.  I'll ship anywhere my post office allows me to ship.  This is the holidays, and I have three small children, so I do appreciate some understanding if I don't get to the post office the day the giveaway closes.   The giveaway will close on the 16th at 7 central standard time.

Mandatory entry- please comment below.  Maybe tell me about a special handmade gift you've either given or received.  The longer-windier, the better(read for me), but it won't improve your chances of winning. Neither will becoming a follower, but I have my candy canes crossed that I'll reach double numbers!  The winner will be picked at random by generating a number at random.org.

But, before you leave, I have to have you look at my cute babies!

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

Willa, Ada, and Micah

Santa and Micah

Willa (with shoes on the wrong feet) and Ada with Mrs. Claus and Jingles the Elf

Be sure to stop by Sew Mama Sew to enter hundreds of giveaways today!


PS.  Please make sure that I can reach you.  If you are chosen, and you didn't leave your email, and you are set to no-reply, I'll go to the next person.


Edited to add: 


P.P.S. Please check your blogger profile to make sure that you aren't a no-reply blogger.  I was for a while without realizing it.  There are a handful of people who've entered thus far that won't be able to win because they are no-reply and didn't leave an email.  I hate to think of all that wasted time spent entering giveaways over the next week.

P.P.S.S.  I may not be home to close the comments for the giveaway, so if you can comment, it's still open.  I anticipate that it won't be much later than 7pm CST.


206 comments:

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Paskiaq said...

I just made an apron and matching oven mitts for my in-laws...have many more on my list...better get to it I guess.

And I would love these fabrics to make an i-spy quilt for my little guy :)

stitchinpenny said...

Love the pictures with Santa. The shoes on the wrong feet make them perfect.

Jennifer said...

I just joined my first i=spy so i'd love to win this, they'd help immensely with my quilt!

Heather said...

Hey, I'm a librarian turned stay at home mom and quilter, too! Sweet! I just made about 30 stocking ornaments with felt and quilted tops. Love them! I also have made I spy quilts in the past, and those prints are perfect.

annmacp said...

I made my grandson a smallish I-spy quilt to keep him warm and entertained in his carseat.

Laurel said...

i'm making quilts for my parents this year! i might not be following you with GFC, but i just added you to my google reader!!

Desi @ Wee Share said...

I have been wanting to make an I-Spy quilt :)

I learned to crochet this year and made my daughter a crochet blanket. I am so proud of it and hope she loves it as much as I do!

Desi
weeshareblog@gmail.com

erica said...

I have been wanting to make some I-spy quilts, that is going to be an after christmas project, so it would be fun to win. I think my favorite gifts to make and give are quilts or blankets

Valerie said...

Oh my your children are gorgeous!

I made my daughter an i-spy quilt last year and have been patiently acquiring charms to make one for my son. I love novelty prints!

I come from a long line of handmade gift givers, I have many that I will treasure forever but a gorgeous knit and crocheted blanket my grandmother made for me stands out. Her hands were twisted with arthritis but she was determined to make me a blanket to sleep under. Every stitch must have been so painful, but each is absolutely perfect. She was an amazing lady.

Merry Christmas :)

Katey said...

I made my fiance a hat last year for Christmas. It got lost recently and I'm working on a new one now.

Eema-le said...

I made matching outfits for my daughter and my niece, using hand dyed fabric, that I dyed myself. I'm really excited about getting some cute photos of the three of them.

Robyn said...

I am making pillowcases for everyone in my family this year. The cuff on each pillow is hand embroidered with their name and a vintage embroidery design. I have 5 completely finished so far, but I have 3 more to start! Eek! I need to get a move on. I am also making a morrocan style pouf and an apron instead of pillowcases, as requested, for 2 family members. The pouf is 90% complete (finding enough stuffing has become an issue) and the apron has not been started. Thanks for the giveaway! robyn(dot)geddes(at)gmail(dot)com

Gill said...

I would love to make an I-spy quilt but it's hard finding enough suitable fabrics - a swap is obviously the way to go!
This is my first visit and I'm signing up to follow you because your children have red hair and so do mine!!

Ana e os Viraventos said...

Your kids are adorable! Congratulations! Ana

hamudale said...

crayon rolls all around.
:)

Joy said...

Um. Favorite gift I've ever made was a Raiders magnet for my hubby. He loved it.

In Black and White said...

I just made my first quilt! I'm incredibly proud that it actually turned out well enough to be gifted to the intended recipient (my cousin's new baby boy) and feeling very enthusiastic about learning more techniques.

Kristy said...

Very cute babies indeed! Love that red hair!!! :)

I'm making a few softies right now for my kiddos, also made my mom a special apron and my mother in law an e-reader cover that she still raves about! They are so sweet to me! ;)

Thanks for the fun! Drop by and enter my giveaways as well if you'd like!

The Hungry Crafter said...

Those fabrics are so cute (I love that toaster print -- ha!) Your kids are just adorable too. I made my Mom a pair of pajamas for CHristmas 2 years ago, which was great fun because she used to make pajamas for my sister and I all the time when we were young!

Deanna said...

I made my sister a pillow cover for our gift exchange.
thanks for the giveaway.

MC said...

I really like those cute prints. I am currently working on a music themed table runner that I designed myself as a gift, and it's turning out to be my favourite so far. I also like making baskets for people with their favourite things in them - they don't have to be fancy or expensive things, in fact the weirder and more un-gift-basket-like the contents, the more fun it is.

Brevistraex said...

My favorite gift was a quilt that was a nine square patch quilt with red and blue fabric. It was the last quilt I got from my grandma before she died. I get another quilt she made when I get married. She made my sisters and I quilts for when we get married.

Brevistraex@gmail.com

Heidi Staples said...

I'm working now on a quilt for my mom. She's an amazing cross stitcher. Thanks for the giveaway!

heidster7@hotmail.com

Jennie said...

Aww, your kids are cute! And I like their names. I have 3 kids too, so don't make it to the post office much either! I've made toys for my kids before - my latest favourite is the blanket I made for our baby son. :)

Kritta22 said...

Your children are beautiful!!

My favorite gift I"ve given was to my dad. I made him a quilt that I designed.

MamaDuck said...

Fun, fun, fun! Thanks for the chance to win!

Sarah said...

What cute fabrics! My favourite ornament is a little wooden teddybear tree ornie that was handpainted my grandmother, who was a very talented folk artist.

Thanks for the giveaway
Sarah @ http://kiwigetscrafty.blogspot.com

Wendy said...

Hmmm, my mum knits so she's made me lots of special presents, and I always make my own gifts so I'm having trouble thinking of something here!!

You will reach triple figures! I'll be back to check you out when the chaos is over!

trash said...

Those are indeed cute bebes. You make gorgeous children!

For my most recent '0' birthday I asked people for a piece of fabric they thought I might like and then a friend made it up for me. I now have a fabulous mempry quilt that makes me smile everytime I look at it.

Margaret said...

Very sweet kids. I'd like to make a quilt like your quilt for Maggie Rose. Makes me smile. :-)

Dresden Quilter said...

I love making quilts for Christmas. Thanks for the giveaway.

Laura said...

I made my son a quilt last year for his one-year-old Christmas. It was made with Alexander Henry's blue zoo and it's not perfect, but he likes it a lot and sleeps under it every night :)
LauraL444 at yahoo dot com

@pril said...

My latest gift was a throw quilt for my twin.

leigh7911 said...

My favorite handmade gift is the quilt I made for my dad's 60th birthday this year. It was the first non-baby-size quilt I've done!

Also, this - "The giveaway is open to anyone who can type" - made me laugh. :)

Gidget said...

Beautiful kiddos..I'm sure you enjoy them.

I just finished what I think is my favorite right now....until the next quilt!

lorraine said...

this is the second year in a row that i knit all my christmas gifts..i really liked the lace shawl i knit my mum this year ..i pick out the yarn myself and a pattern that i think the receiver will like..i think handmade is twice as special..and with all the amazing luxury yarn out there the idea of a handmade scarf is no longer a "tacky" gift :) raineoc@yahoo.com

dakewlone said...

My favorite gift is a personalized photobook/scrapbook. It's always interesting to see what others remember about shared events. :)

KarenD said...

I made a Noah's Ark quilt for a pregnant friend.
sprite3 (at) gmail (dot) com

Morgan said...

Um, I love novelty fabrics because I have little kids! And I'd love some more spoonflower I Spy squares, too! Anyway, I just made a mermaid doll for one of my little girls. Thanks!

Charlotte said...

I've most enjoyed giving a super huge quilt I made for a good friend. I've not taken part in any spoonflower swaps although they sound like loads of fun. I do take part in lots of bees and swaps on flickr though and I love paper piecing and some of your scraps would be perfect to go in some paper pieced blocks. Thanks for the chance to win

Anne said...

I have a daughter named Willa, too! She's 6 and has 2 older sisters. My 12yo and I are making her a quilt now. She's been asking for a quilt of her own for a while now. Merry Christmas!

sew and so much more said...

I made my sister a purse with a robot theme and gave it to her for Christmas a few years ago. It turned out so cute that I wanted to keep it! She raved about it for months and got many compliments on it. I think it was the best give I gave because she appreciated it so much :-)

KeriCan said...

This may get my I-Spy streak started! roguekeri at live dot com

Barbara said...

I love the nativity my grandmother made for me when I was a little girl.

mtnquiltr said...

I made an I Spy quilt for Christmas, but there's only one quilt and two gds, so I think I see another in my future!

Alli said...

My sister paints the most fantastic cartoons for our presents when she has the time. Last year, she painted my family as a Star Wars poster!

Michelle Olsen Sasak said...

Your I-Spy quilts are so cute - I've been slowly gathering fabrics to make one for my youngest daughter, she's patient too :)

The neatest thing I've ever given as a gift was the "stained glass" dragonfly artwork I made for my stepmom. I found a dragonfly coloring page that was pretty enough, taped it to the underside of a piece of glass taken out of a picture frame, and used Gallery Glass liquid lead lines to trace the lines onto the glass. Then I used a bunch of colors of Gallery Glass paints to "color" it. I swirled two colors together most of the time for a prettier look. When it all dried, I put the glass back in the frame, used those sharp little metal things to keep the glass in, added screws & hanging wire to the back, and it was done. It was beautiful - I wish I had taken a picture of it.

Anonymous said...

My favorite gift I ever gave was a queen sized quilt I made for my mom. Sadly, she ruined it within just a few months of receiving it. I cried...

j_poshusta@yahoo.com

LethargicLass said...

I love swapping and have done a ton... I also love Spoonflower... where so I find these swaps?

Judi said...

Your kids are beautiful and you did a great job on the quilts! We homeschool too - five kids, but two are graduated and the other three are ages 7, 3, and 5 months, so we have a bit of a gap. Last year I did 1st grade and 12th grade while entertaining a 2 year old and being pregnant. Oh yeah, and I also run a licensed home daycare. You said you like long winded answers, right? ;)

Bethany said...

I made a fan block quilt for my grandma. It was just lovely. The back of the quilt I used a sheet from her fathers (my great grandpa's) house, he just passed away and it was a tender moment!

Shana Putnam said...

The first quilt I made was for my brother's first child. He still snuggles with it and he had extra chances to use it for security as he was born wit club feet. So there were weekly doc visits and cast changes. It was always there with him and now he is an active year and a half walking around everywhere. Love him so much.

Ramona said...

I love novelty fabric so your giveaway is right up my alley! Your kids are so cute. My four are now young adults. I am making several gifts right now, the biggest being a T shirt quilt for my youngest son.
ramona_murray(at)comcast(dot)net.

Katie said...

I love making I spy quilts!

hueisei said...

Patchwork wristlet for my sis.
Thx for the chance to win ^^v
I'm a new follower.

Tiffany said...

I have a start of i-spy fabric that will hopefully end up being a quilt for my little guy!
Your girls are cuties!!

Holly said...

When I first started dating my hubby I complained that my ex had never written me a love letter, even when we were thousands of miles apart. My hubs wrote and mailed me one even though we just lived down the street from each other.

Lori said...

Great giveaway--thanks for the chance! I haven't done very much gift-sewing lately...I think I'm going to whip up some snack bags for a friend though. :)

Jodi said...

Great give away. My latest gift was 2 draw string bags with individual stitchery panels worked in Navy and White.

M said...

I made my new little nephew a baby quilt for when he was born. It's made with sharp lines and deep bold colors that fit his mom and dad. It was so much fun to wonder about his personality when I was putting it together.

michaelacking (at) gmail (d0t) com

Glenys said...

They are so pretty! Well I've given my mom and a friend pocket tissue cozies which are really cute.

Alison said...

I made hoodies for my kids with the Urban Hoodie pattern. My son proudly announces to anything who comments that its his Urban Hoodie that my mom made! I had to smile when I read your post. I did my first sewing on my Grandma and then my Mom's treadle machine. My Mom's machine was an heirloom from her Grandmother and she wouldn't let us wind the bobbins. It had a tendency to break and then my handy Dad would find some way to tack it back together again.
aliben7 (at) gmail (dot) com

camelama said...

I'm going to be making little zip totes for friends, just little happy presents. And I'm making them on a 1924 Singer with leg-lever instead of foot pedal! :)

NabihaW said...

As simple your blog and writing is , Ive fallen in love with your blog..(and the ladybirds! how did you know they're my favorite? :) )I was working as a teacher, now I'm a SAHM to a 2 year old girl and started quilting only after my daughter was born, I too still have quilts that my grandmother have quilted by hand, and have come to appreciate the fine handwork done on these beautiful quilts. My quilting is really different from my ancestors, I'm from India and the quilting done there is quite different than the one I do which I mostly learnt from the internet and blogs, so next time I visit my mum, I have to ask her to show me her way.

Your giveaway is so timely..I'm building up a stash of fabric and squares for my daughter's I Spy collection..winning your giveaway would be a perfect addition..thanks for the chance!

nabihawangde(at)gmail(dot)com

jojoebi-designs said...

a fellow Spoonflower fan although I didn't know about the swaps!
I used spoonflower to print a playmat for my friends new baby, I made it as roads type of playmat and made all the road names related to my friend and family.

Pam @Threading My Way said...

One special gift I made, was a matching cupcake dress for a little girl and her Cabbage Patch Fib doll. Both the girl and the doll also received little bags that matched their dresses. I enjoyed reading your post and am now following. You're well into the double figures now. Thanks for a great giveaway. I love novelty fabrics.

helena said...

I have started collecting I-spy fabrics for my little girl's first "big girl" quilt, so would love to win this to add to my collection. I always hand make all my nieces and nephews christmas presents and my favourite this year was a patchwork bag with really cute novelty fabrics. Thanks for the chance to win.

OzKnitter said...

I love the quilt my mum recently gave me. It was an on/off project for about 20 years!

ozknitter(at)gmail(dot)com

Stella said...

I've never heard of a spoonflower swap, but those squares look gorgeous! I would love to make an eye-spy quilt for my little one, she is at the perfect age to really enjoy something like that...

rutherbrad(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kristy QP said...

Oh I love novelty fabric. I keep meaning to make an eye spy quilt but I haven't yet.

Your kidlets are gorgeous! Love their names. Micah was my boy name last pregnancy but I had a girl :)

Thanks for a fun giveaway!

Mhairi said...

I love to make handmade gifts and this year my three year old is making a softie for his sister. It is a ghost, he made one for himself and she keeps stealing it so we decided to make one for her as her present. I realise that this doesn't officially count as I haven't made it but I helped so I am using it as my entry.
Otherwise it is the knitting bag I made for my sister.
I would love to win as I am trying to make an I-Spy quilt for my sister's baby due next year, and these blocks would certainly help.

Paskiaq said...

I made a personalized christmas stocking for my nephew

All Things Beautiful said...

What beautiful kids. I love to sew and make just about anything. I'm still working on balancing my time between fun crafts and the rest of the things I need to do.

Brooke said...

I made fleece stockings for my three children to hang above our fireplace last year. I hand stitched their names and a little something extra on each one to make them special. :) One has buttons, one has snowflakes and one has mittens on it.
brooke at richardchurch dot com

Anonymous said...

I've been wanting to make I spy placemats for ages. These fabrics would be perfect.

Gina said...

I've given a few different dresses for my friends' babies. For some reason, it's been a year of baby girls being born! And I am next up! :D

ikkinlala said...

My dad built me a swing set for my sixth birthday (a big wooden one, not one of the smaller metal ones). We used it for years, and then when we got too big for and it started falling apart we planted flowers that grew up it.

ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

Beccanae said...

Would love to make fabric toys for 4 month old with fabric

Karen P. said...

I made a patchwork table runner for my mom & love seeing her use it!

Marilize said...

I absolutely love your quilting style and seeing as that is my next big adventure, I am absolutely going to follow you for inspiration :)

The most special handmade gift I gave wasn't really impressive, but the reaction it got made it my favourite memory. My mother-in-law raised two sons and thus the handmade gifts dried up after primary school. Gift giving became money giving and so it carried on for years. Enter new daughter in law that just needs any old excuse to get her craft on. The first handmade gift I gave her was a card. A simple card, but wowee did this blow her mind. She absolutely loved it and it's still on display on her workdesk. She took that card around to all her friends to get her brag on. She is also one of my diligent cheerleaders in my handmade business. This year I am giving her a bag in her favourite colours. I have a feeling that will hit the spot :)

Thank you for a great giveaway - I love all the prints (even the gaudy frog one).

Marilize
marilize(dot)paulsen(at)gmail(dot)com

Millie said...

What lovely fabrics!
My favourite handmade gift is a Moses basket(crib) made by my mother (she's a basketmaker) for my eldest daughter, and has been used by each of my 4 children, including my twin girls, together! I hope it will be used by at least one more generation.

adrianna said...

Beautiful family and gorgeous quilts made this year!
I made my friend a t-shirt quilt for his bday this year and I the fact that he loved it so much made it my favorite project ever:)
solsmom(at)gmail(dot)com

Christie S. said...

You do have beautiful children. I'm working on a set of place mats to give to my sons girlfriend. I'm proud of them. Hope she likes them too.

Amber said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I love the fabric squares, what great fabric! My most cherished handmade gift is a crocheted blanket with a rather unfortunate color palate. My husbands grandmother made it just before she passed away at 98 years with whatever yarn she happened to have. On a happier note, I love making stuff for all the kids in my life!

Chiska said...

I think the best handmade things I've EVER received is a lace tablecloth (90 inches!) my aunt made for me. She was so sick at the time I was sure that I wouldn't get a piece of lace that she usually made for the people getting married and then I got a WHOLE table cloth. It still kind of makes me teary as she passed away the next year. You do have beautiful children. I love that you're a stay at home librarian. I never made it to the out of the house librarian stage, but I always wanted to be a librarian and now we have lots of books--I'm not so good at the sorting and organizing--just collecting. Thanks for this chance and the introduction to your blog!

Michelle Frame said...

I think the best thing I ever made was a Black Apple doll for my niece. Her mom isn't crafty so this was a novelty. I made it look just like her and made two outfits for the doll.
mframe00@gmail.com

Saraccino said...

There not a special handmade gift but more a special moment when I give somebody a handmade present and they really, really love it. Okay... I remember a good example: I made some polymer clay earrings for my little sister... and she lost them so she insisted for a year until I made this pair of earrings again for her! How could I ever say no? ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi! I could definitely use those lovely fabrics! I would love to make one funny baby quilt! My dear friend is going to be soon grandmother (first grandchild)and she would be so happy for that quilt! Thank you for sharing!
nerospostatgmaildotcom

Shellie said...

I'm also a stay at home, homeschooling mom and I met my husband while I was working as a library assistant!

When my great grandmother died, my mom brought back a little pink tied lap quilt that I loved so much. When it was time for me to go off to college, I passed it on to my then 2-year old niece that was living with us and who I had help take care of since she was born. When my sister was pregnant again 3 years later, I tried my hand at making my first quilt. I made a cute little top, sandwiched and bound it but didn't tie or quilt the layers together. It wasn't until my third quilt that I realized that that is a vital step in making a quilt. Oops! I learned my lesson and have made many quilts since.

JustPam said...

Your babies are adorable! I made two quilts this past year that were very special. One was for a friend suffering from breast cancer and one was for a friend who turned 75 this year. We were all in tears when I gave them the quilts. Sometimes it is so hard to tell someone you love them, but giving them a gift from the heart lets them know.

Laura Jeanne said...

Huh...who doesn't like novelty fabric? :)

I am currently trying to make a special quilt for my 3 year old son...not getting too far, though. *sigh*

ljbourque @ gmail dot com

Mika said...

I LOVE your honesty!!!! So awesome! And I'll be back for sure!

Michelle {Daydream Believers} said...

I've been sewing for years, and only just recently heard of I-spy quilts (crazy, I know) - SUCH a cool idea! I know my girls (who l.o.v.e to play I-spy) would really enjoy one! So I'd love to win your sweet prize and get started on making my first I-spy quilt! :) My favorite handmade gift that I have ever given was a Christmas story that I wrote for my parents when I was 14. I wrote the story, hand illustrated all of the pages, wrote out all of the text, and "bound" the book by using sheets of clear binder slips and silver rings from three key rings... all of which I was able to purchase in the "school store" at my middle school. It was a complete surprise! It was so fun for me to give them my ooak handmade gift. My family still enjoys reading it every Christmas. :) Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Best,
Michelle
daydreambelievershop(at)gmail(dot)com

Sis-O said...

Thank you for this give away and reminder about "no reply blogger." I am half way thru the blog hop when I discovered I was "no reply." (sad face)
I love to make baby and children's quilts. they are quick, easy, well received and I can FMQ with my little Kenmore sewing machine. I love your redheaded babies. I had two (now grown). My last child was the only non redhead/freckled child. I love the back of the eye spy quilt. love scrappy backs. Def want to follow your blog. Don't feel bad about not writing often. I get so far behind on my blog..too busy with life to sit at computer. ok, thanks again and enjoy this season with your beautiful children.
skowens (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
(I'm paranoid now so typing just in case)

macca said...

I have just finished a quilt for my son -which I hope he loves

Foolish Feathers said...

I am making a quilt for my husband for his birthday that he doesn't know about! Last year I found out I was a no reply blogger! It just hurts my tummy to think how many entries I did before i realized this!

kautz potatoes said...

My mom made baby quilts for each grand child born (our first was named Micah). Now she is gone but my sisters are continuing to add grandchildren and I have become the honorary baby quilt maker...out of fabric from her stash. Such a privilage.

Lauri said...

Every year when my kids were young we would rent a cabin in upper Wisconsin for a week and I would piece a quilt top. Sometimes as a gift but the kids would get really excited it I was making one for them. I now hope to have grandkids someday to pass along the tradition. My daughter (one and Only) is not really interested in learning the craft of quilting so I have to wait until the next generation. I am the first in my family to quilt. I have one that my grand grandmother had but I do not think she was a quilter. lauri.rymar@gmail.com

Leslie C said...

Love the pictures of your kids! Last year I made seven tote bags, for seven girls/ladies in my family. I carefully selected the combinations of fabric (all from my stash) for each, and had a blast making them!

Anonymous said...

What fun fabrics. I guess my favorite hand made gift was the wedding shawl/veil I designed and knitted for a friend's wedding. Not a christmas present, but it is my fave so far.

majorasue(at)hotmail(dot)com

Jessica said...

Love the fabrics! I made my best friend/maid of honor a photo quilt when she got back from Europe. She's a photographer and I used her favorite photos - it was very time consuming but so worth it!

Sarah said...

My birthday is Saturday, so this would be such a great birthday present!

My favorite gift was a blanket I made for a friend like my mom used to make them. I lost my mom to cancer this past year. She always made blankets with cotton on one side and fleece/minky on the other. They are the best blankets! If you are cold, you can use the fleecie side. If you are warm, you can have the cool cotton on your skin. It's like a sheet and blanket in one. They don't sell them like that in stores. So, I made one for a friend who was going to have surgery. She loved it!

Carly said...

Fun giveaway! Waving to a fellow librarian. :) I made some pillowcases, a tote, and a chef's hat this year for gifts. :)

Needled Mom said...

What cuties. I love the red hair.

I think the best gifts I have given have been quilts to each grandchild at birth. It is so much fun to see them so loved.

The Thompsons said...

Oh gosh- this has been the year of making Christmas gifts. I always love giving quilts, but this year I made little bags with a present in it for all of the cousins and my kids. It makes me smile even if they'll like the present more than the bags. :)

Shirley said...

Your babies are cute! I've always wanted to make an I-spy quilt. My sister got married this summer and I knit her a large bread basket liner. She likes to bake bread and I thought it could be used to cover the dough or cooling bread too.

Libby said...

I *love* those novelty fabrics.

I made a bunch of raglan shirts for my nieces and nephew and they are probably my favorite this year !

Unknown said...

I'd have to say a quilt for my cousin's new little one. My cousin is crazy for anything vintage and she chose vintage cowboys for her nursery theme. I found the perfect fabric, and she went nuts for it. It was the first quilt I'd ever done the right way, it was special...
nikkipeachy AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

Your kiddos are super cute!

(and so are mine!)

What was I supposed to write about here, again? It's midnight and I should really stop entering giveaways and go catch some zzzzzs...

Really, what was the comment about? Gotta scroll back up... wait...

Ah, yes...the hand made gift. I'm making lots this year. Zippered pouches for all kinds of uses. And a pin apron for my mom. I think the pouches are the more fun, though.

african.joy at hotmail dot com

Thanks for sharing!

♥Duff said...

I made a quilt for an aunt who rarely receives an Christmas gift form anyone, but who is always invited to parties where she needs to bring one. My aunt absolutely loved the time and care I took in designing something just for her.

gina said...

My mother-in-law knits beautifully and I was stunned to receive a sweater she knit especially for me a couple of years ago. It was pink and soft and cozy - just beautiful! This was before I was married to her son so it made me feel very special that she would put so much time and care into a gift for me! Now my husband and I have a baby boy and she has knit a few items just for him, each time leaving me speechless. I love homemade gifts!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to win your giveaway! Happy Holidays to you!

Jill said...

I made a quilt for relay for life with lots of cancer sayings. My way of giving back.

ElfRenee said...

I received some awesome custom fingerless gloves from a friend!

Allison C said...

My mom made me a very large plum, gray, and black quilt. It keeps me, hubby, and one of our dogs cozy at night. I appreciate the extra large size since my husband has a tendency to be a cover hog. He claims I'm the cover thief, but we all know who really is...and its probably the dog.

Lorri said...

I love novelty fabric! So much fun! I really love making baby booties (that's my gift I love to give), so I'm sure that some of the fabric will find its way onto little feet if I win. :)

MaryBeth said...

I've been cutting hexigon novelty fabrics for an eye spy quilt. I'd love to win this prize. Merry Christmas.

Erin M. said...

I have an I-spy quilt for my kids that my mom made. I'd love to make one for my niece. Thanks for the giveaway.
erincode-at-metzlers-dot-org.

Danny Heyen said...

I made my daughter a stocking for her first Christmas. My hope is that she will cherish it for all her Christmases to come!

Lindsay said...

I have quilts from both my Grandmas that I love and use often-they're such a beautiful and useful gift and remind me of the love that went into them!

I have a two-year-old, so novelty fabric and I-spy squares would totally be useful and appreciated.

SewLindaAnn said...

I love novelty squares! Your kids are beautiful. My latest gift made was a stuffed owl.

Sallie said...

I've made quilt for several family members - still have a few more to make. Thanks for the giveaway! Merry Christmas!

B Greene said...

My sister made me a set of three angel ornaments that I will treasure forever! Thanks for the chance to win!

Christy said...

I recently made a beautiful 'little red riding hood' cape thing for my niece (pattern from the oliver + s book)
cberends81 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Julie said...

I have made many people in my family quilts, at first my daughter didn't even notice. Then she started looking longingly at them. "Mama, is that one for me?" Unfortunately they never were- and I realized that she wanted one. So the night before the first day of Kindergarten I gave her her own twin sized quilt. She was over the moon happy and she can now recite the special message on the tag. Thanks for the chance! I love I-Spy too:)

elflyn said...

I am currently knitting a teddy bear. She will have several outfits and a pair of fairy wings and then when ready will be sent as a gift for a little girl as my little girl is now 17 and no longer needs a fairy teddy!

Barbara said...

I love your quilts...lively, happy colours.
I made a colourful advent calendar for my grandson, it had pockets to hold surprises and a santa village scene.

Zoe said...

This year I'm making fabric luggage tags for my friends who are about to goo off exploring the world :) I love novelty fabric!

Njeri said...

You have the cutest babies. I always give handmade gifts for christmas or birthdays, sometimes even the simplest ones are much appreciated, like a card.

Ashley said...

My mom made me a ladybug quilt a few years ago. It is very special to me not only because it has ladybugs on it, but because it came from my mom!

RyanSarahN said...

My mom just sent me an advent calendar she made just like the one we had growing up. I was so excited! Thanks for the chance to win! ryansarahn at gmail dot com.

fieryone said...

My favourite project so far is a quilt I just finished for a friend who's having a baby. Its bright and bold and oh so soft with minky :)

Susanne said...

I made a quilt for my moms 50th birthday. She loves it! :)
Susanne

java diva said...

Love spoonflower. My friend makes I Spy quilts. That's a fun idea. I'd def use the squares, probably for a mug rug.

Taly said...

The last gift I made was a pillow cover for a friend.

Anonymous said...

This giveaway thing is fun and addictive! I love novelty fabrics and charms and want to make more kid-quilts with them. Thanks for hosting this!

Shevvy said...

Hooray for gingers, gingers of the world unite! Did you know we are an endangered species?

Tawny said...

I've been working on patchwork place mats for a couple of people on my list. Lots of work and love have gone into them. And they each turn out so differently that I really love them. Might have to make a few for my house after I'm done all the gifts :)

Sarita said...

Thanks for the giveaway! Have a great holiday!

Kristin PG said...

I'm working on a quilt for my sister, and it's taking some time, but should hopefully be worth it when it's finished!

Angie said...

I spun some yarn for my bf's mom this year. I hope she loves it.

Calikisses said...

I made a carebear for my boyfriend last year because his nickname is Carebear. He's a huge fan of Fords, so the Ford oval was on the stomach and then little trucks on the paws. He was also in the army, 82nd airborne, so I put a little american flag on one arm and the airborne patch on the other. That way it is truly representative of him.

deserae said...

I think the best homemade present is a quilt! I have made one for all 5 of my nieces and nephews!

Mishka said...

Your little ones are adorable. They must be so excited for Christmas. I have 3 and 5.5 year old nieces who are super excited. Can't wait to see them over the holidays. I made them and my parents two holiday-themed table runners. They've been shipped already. One has arrived, the other we're not sure yet. :(

Mike and Jackie said...

I love the quilt, I am hoping to do an i Spy quilt someday

AnnaPK said...

Your quilts are beautiful! I cut out squares for a quilt for the baby, but they are still just squares. :D
kirkwood0419(at)hotmail(dot)com

Brandy said...

my most favorite project has been a minky quilt i made my daughter... I didnt get it made before she was born but before her one year birthday lol
Brandythrasher @ att. net

Kathy H said...

Pillowcases are my favorite gift to make. I can use those wonderful novelty fabrics for any sport or interest or holiday. They are great.

Amy said...

I knitted my boys blankets when they were born. I love to see them snuggle in them! Thanks for the giveaway! Amy @ gasudimack(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

sandyandcosmo said...

My favorite are the crocheted dishclothes from my daughter-in-law, I use them every day. Thanks for the giveaway!

Kylie Carlson said...

My favorite project is always the one I'm working on now- which is a Carpenter's Star quilt in black, blue, and orange. It's in Boise State University colors for my sister. Thank you for the lovely giveaway, I especially love that ray gun fabric. kcarlson1152[at]hotmail.com

pbs.seams said...

Last year I made my niece and my 2 future daughters-in-law suede purses - they loved them.

Susan said...

I gave a friend a bird I had sewn as part of our groups Secret Santa, and then the next year I received one from hew. My friend Joan creates beautiful things.

Julie Kaye from KS said...

My granddaughter made me a cake plate that has her two year old hand prints on it. Thank you for the opportunity.

Mom C said...

I love Santas. One year my DIL, just taking up quilting, pieced a 12 month Santa quilt for me. There are 12 blocks with Santa dressed appropriately for each month of the year. It is darling. Thanks for the giveaway.

P's Qs said...

My grandma made a jeans blanket out of my grandpa's for my high school graduation. It is on my bed whenever it gets cold. I will treasure it forever.

Jo said...

I am such a freak when it comes to novelty fabric!I buy it even when I have no idea what I will do with it! I figure sooner or latter it will suit someone I am making something for and get used. I made a novelty quilt one Christmas for my sister Ginny, I don't remember the name of the fabric but they were cowboys and pickup trucks and the cowboys did not have shirts on, I also used dream catcher fabric and a fabric that resembled denim. She was just getting over a bad breakup and I included a note telling her to dream of these guys for a while so she would feel better! The silly girl tacked the quilt to the ceiling over her bed and said she could look at them but she was not going to sleep with strange men well at least not more than one at a time. Needless to say it did cheer her up! I would love to be your winner! Thanks for the chance.

Kathy said...

Those ARE cute babies. My "special" handmade gift is a sweater I made for my husband as a wedding present. Hooray for a man who like to wear sweaters! This one is still going strong after nine years and much, much wear.

winterwrens at gmail dot com

Charlotte said...

you are well past double digits. Congrats! I'm thrilled that I finally finished knitting the second sock of a pair i've made my husband for Christmas

Consuelo said...

The best gift I ever recieved was a children's story my husband wrote for me for Christmas. It was well written and full of meaning for us. A gift I'll treasure forever.

Nata said...

I'd love to have time to make so many nice things when I'm a mama! Nice to meet you :)

javede said...

I knit my boyfriend a scarf for his birthday in the colors of his favorit soccer team.

Binks said...

I adore this pillow my aunt gave me for my birthday. It was 20 years in the making and when she finally finished it, she wanted to give it to me. It's a crewel embroidered scene of a girl praying the Guardian Angel at her bedside. The words of the prayer are embroidered and she make the bed comforter into a quilt. She basically made it into a tiny sampler of all these different stitches. She also added a 3d braid to the girls head that actually falls straight down the pillow. It's very cute and super precious.

Ms Muffin said...

Oh, what a neat giveaway! I would love all those scraps as I really really have to make an I spy quilt for my daughter. I entered one swap about two years ago - and have yet not done anything with the pieces!!!

A handmade gift I have made ... well, I have made several. But one that my daughter loved ALOT is this unicorn I sewed for her:

http://muffinsnmore.blogspot.com/2011/04/sewing-unicorn.html

Have a nice holiday time!

Ms Muffin

Ribbonrose said...

Lovely children and awesome giveaway!

jeifner said...

One of my favorites that I received was this small modeled angel ornament made from this special paste from a friend from Ecuador. I feel loved each time I see it.

Lucija said...

First, let me say hello! I am your new follower. But WOW, talking about great fabrics! This is pretty exciting giveaway for me since I have 2 kids (age 5 i 2) and ADORE novelty fabric. Unfortunatly, here where I live, in beautiful little contry Croatia in Europe, it´s hard to buy novelty fabrics, almost imposible, especially boys fabrics. so, I would very very very happy to win this giveaway!

Paula Lemos said...

All the dolls and soft toys that I make for my daughter and for my friends' kids are special to me and I've been told they're also special for the receiver.
Thanks for the giveaway!
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

HoneySage said...

I just have to tell you my daughter and I love the fabric with the books on it. We squeal when we find anything to do with books. Thank you for the giveaway!

Katrin said...

I made a quilt for my friend's wedding before she moved to the States. I hope it reminds her of me!

CMEH said...

made a great activity quilt for tummy time for a friend's baby.... lots of black and white and reds and several textures

Clari said...

I have been a knitter since I was 10 so I've made quite a few handmade gifts over the years. I've only started sewing in September. My favorite was last year. I made a purple shawl for my sister in law after we lost her 17 year old son suddenly. He was about to become the basketball captain for his varsity team and was playing at the local Y and collapsed. The ME couldn't find a cause. Terrible. The shawl brought her some comfort so she could be hugged by us even though we live in NY and she is in GA. That was my favorite.

needle and nest said...

What a great giveaway! My favorite me-made items is a Darth Vader costume for my daughter's bear. If you want the whole (long winded) story, you can read it here: http://littlepeanutshop.blogspot.com/2011/05/darth-bear.html. It's a fun read and you can't beat the photo of her bear in his costume! ;)

Lee said...

i made my mother in law a log cabin quilt. She will love it! thanks for the nice giveaway.

jqluo said...

I make a reversible tote for my best friend.
Thanks for the generous giveaway and a chance to win!

Holly U said...

I made an I-spy quilt for Project Linus this year and found it frustrating to work with so many busy prints. Buuuuut--my son loved the outcome and would love to have mommy make him one. So of course I will!

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

Hi, I became a follower:)

My favorite homemade gift is a sweater my sister in law knitted for my first daughter. She wore it everywhere and we retired it when she outgrew it (we have 2 younger daughters as well). It's in the hope chest now for [hopefully] her daughter some day. It is a blue/purple marble sweater with a collar. I love it!!! My middle daughter received the prettiest knit blanket in gray, purple, and fuschia. We retired it as well and had it framed on her wall. I might not give that back to her. I might sleep with it when I'm in the old folks home:) The youngest...the jury is still out on the most special item from her babyhood.

Heather H said...

Precious kids! I think these fabrics would be great to use in the coffee sleeves that I'm making. Very fun prints.

Sangeetha said...

I love making and giving taggie blankets to the babies that cross my path

Carla G said...

I made a counted cross stitch picture for my father-in-law of the old wooden elevators in the prairies. Most of them have been taken down and replaced with steel or cement ones. So with him being a farmer it is a memory that I captured in the cross stitch. It is hung where everyone will see it when they come to visit their house. Thanks for a chance to win this awesome fabric. I've been wanting to do an I Spy quilt too! :)

Sarah said...

I am so proud, I made everyone their favorite canned items this year, it was even more fun taste testing everything!

Anonymous said...

I madw a flannel rag quilt for the first time this year..had to try it once..it was fun and i enjoyed the process and my nephew is hopefully enjoying his new ruggedy quilt!

Laura said...

My mom started me a quilt for a wedding present before she passed away and last year for Christmas my aunt finished it for me. That was my favorite handmade present.

Trish said...

I made some needlebooks using vintage scraps from Grandmother's scrap bag for members of my family.

Tammy said...

I have made aprons & backpacks for gifts this year and a cute dinosaur for my youngest!

I am loving the shoes. When I picked my 4 yr old up from Nursery (Kindergarten) last week, he came out with his trousers back-to-front and his shoes on the wrong feet too! I didn't drop him off like that - honest ha ha! i sill haven't been able to figure it out!

karamino said...

Your babies soo cute! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Sasha said...

I make a lot of handmade gifts but don't seem to receive many back, my friends aren't so crafty. I did once receive a home made coat hanger. It did the job!

Lisa Cox said...

My very first quilt that I made was for my mother. It was a lap quilt with 9 patch blocks alternating with embroidered blocks. I gave it to my mother for mother's day last year. Little did I know that 6 months later she would pass away from heart failure.

Heather said...

I took classes for a while making porcelin dolls. I made my mom an Indian doll, that she still displays in her room (13 years later).

Beth said...

I love your children's red hair! I am (was) a red head and my grandson is a red head. I am collecting squares to make him an I-spy quilt. Hope I win!
beth(dot)sebastian(at)gmail(dot)com

EG said...

Love the name "Willa!"

I love the log cabin quilt I gave my step-mother when she had surgery.

mab said...

My grandmother (who is 90) gave me all of her fabric when her arthritis meant she could no longer sew. In the midst of the stash was a patchwork top made of clothes. I took that and completed it for her Christmas gift last year. I thought she had pieced it. In reality, her mother had pieced it from clothes that she made for my Grandmother, Great Aunt, and Great Uncle. Now my Grandma sleeps each night under a quilt made by her mother and her grandmother. And that makes me happy as a lark. :)

kathy said...

I generally give hand-made gifts. I love matching the fabric to the recipient and making them something they can use. I love novelty fabric suffering a terribly addiction to airplane fabrics.
Thanks for the giveaway - and I totally love that red hair on those kidlets.

Addie said...

Adorable kids and quilts! I'm a big fan of novelty fabrics, especially ones with robots! i sleep under a quilt made by my grandmother out of my mother's, aunts and uncleschildhood clothing.

Andi said...

This year I'm making make up pouches for my sisters-in-law.

Anonymous said...

Great photos! My son and I are filling baby food jars with treats and topping the lid with fabric scraps. They look cute!

Brooke Crook said...

A Dr. Seuss quilt for my friend!

Deanne said...

My favorite hand-made gift that I made and gave, was a needlepoint bell pull that my father had purchased the kit for and every Christmas he would pull it out and work on it for about two nights, then put it away until the next year. After my mother's death, my father decided to move to a smaller place and packed this bell pull to be moved. (I hadn't seen it in 5 years.) I "took" it, without his knowledge, and finished it, backed it and attached the hardware for hanging it. I wrapped it up that Christmas. When he opened it he, at first, thought I had given the unfinished piece. He was so surprised and happy to see that it was completed. It was hung up before Christmas dinner was on the table.

Anne-Marie said...

oh my youngest daughter has red curly hair love that you have red heads too !
Hmm I have only been sewing for just over a year so anything I make is special - this year I have made ( just about finished ) black apple dolls for my girls and a little I spy quilt to go with them would be great!

Becks said...

Yay! You made it to double-digits! Congrats! I am still in the singles, myself. Perhaps a giveaway would help? :o) I am excited to give my mom a double potholder this year that I am going to make this weekend. Yes, that's me, Ms. Procrastinator... HOWEVER, I hadn't found a pattern that I liked until the SMS giveaway. That's what happens when you browse hundreds of blogs, I guess. Adorable quilts, by the way. :o)

M-R Charbonneau said...

Too funny! I have three kids (boys), with the youngest one being named Micah and I'm giving away a charm pack for my giveaway too. New follower. I've made pillowcases and mug rugs so far. Hopefully, I'll also finish a growth chart for Micah. Thanks for the giveaway!

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